西塞罗的政治演讲

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1、oxfordworld’sclassicsPOLITICALSPEECHESMarcusTulliusCicero(106–43bc)wasthesonofaRomanequesfromArpinum,some70milessouth-eastofRome.Herosetoprominencethroughhisskillinspeakingandhisexceptionalsuccessinthecriminalcourts,whereheusuallyspokeforthedefence.AlthoughfromafamilythathadneverproducedaRo

2、mansenator,hesecuredelectiontoallthemajorpoliticalofficesattheearliestagepermittedbylaw.Hisconsulshipfellinayear(63)inwhichadangerousinsurrectionoccurred,theCatilinarianconspiracy;byhispersuasiveoratoryandhiscontroversialexecutionoffiveconfessedconspirators,hepreventedtheconspiracyfrombreaking

3、outatRomeandwashailedasthefatherofhiscountry.ExiledfortheexecutionsbyhisenemyClodiusin58butrecalledthefollowingyear,helosthispoliticalindependenceasaresultofthedominationofpoliticsbythemilitarydynastsPompeyandCaesar.Hisgover-norshipofCilicia(51–50)wasexemplaryinitshonestyandfairness.Alwaysa

4、firmrepublican,hereluctantlysupportedPompeyintheCivilWar,butwaspardonedbyCaesar.HewasnotletintotheplotagainstCaesar,butwasinasenseitsinspiration,beingseenbynowasasymboloftherepublic.AfterCaesar’sassassination(44),hesupportedtheyoungOctavian(thefutureemperorAugustus)andledthesenateinitsoperat

5、ionsagainstMarkAntony.WhenOctavianandAntonyformedthe‘secondtriumvirate’withLepidusin43,Cicerowastheirmostprominentvictim;hemethisendwithgreatcourage.Cicero’sspeechesaremodelsofeloquenceandpersuasion;andtogetherwithhisletterstheyformthechiefsourceforthehistoryofthelaterepublic.Hisphilosophic

6、altreatises,writteninperiodswhenhewasdeprivedofhispoliticalfreedom,arethemainvehiclebywhichHellenisticphilosophywastransmittedtothewest.HisprosestyleraisedtheLatinlanguagetoaneleganceandbeautythatwasneversurpassed.D.H.BerryisSeniorLecturerinClassicsattheUniversityofLeeds.Hehaspublishedanedi

7、tionofandcommentaryonCicero’sProSulla(CambridgeClassicalTextsandCommentaries,1996)andatranslationCicero:DefenceSpeeches(OxfordWorld’sClassics,2000),towhichthisbookisacompanionvolume.HelivesinLeedsandtheScottishBorders.oxfordworld’sclassicsForover100years